David De Gea, who made a key double save in the second half, which proved pivotal in the context of the tie, came third on 16 per cent, with Rashford next on 11 per cent after a thrilling return to the starting line-up featured the goal that sparked the comeback and a shot against the bar at the end of the first half.

It is Ronaldo’s first Man of the Match award since the one he won on his second debut for the club, in the 4-1 defeat of Newcastle United at Old Trafford on 11 September.

Enter our competition to win a Ronaldo shirt!

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MATCH DETAILS

United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire (c), Shaw; Fred (Matic 88), McTominay (Pogba 66); Greenwood (Sancho 72), Fernandes, Rashford (Cavani 66); Ronaldo

Subs not used: Henderson, Bailly, Mata, Lingard, Dalot, Telles, van de Beek, Elanga.

Goals: Rashford 53, Maguire 75, Ronaldo 81.

Bookings: Shaw, Matic, Cavani.

Atalanta: Musso, Maehie, Palomino, Koopmeiners, Muriel (Zapata 56), Freuler, de Roon, Demiral (Lovato 45), Ilicic (Miranchuk, 67), Zappacosta, Pasalic (Malinovskyl 67).

Subs not used: Rossi, Sportiello, Pezzella, Scalvini, Piccoli.

Goals: Pasalic 15, Demiral 29.

Bookings: Lovato, Pasalic, De Roon.

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United had led by just the one goal when Ronaldo, signed for £12.5 million only a few days before from Sporting, arrived on the pitch after 61 minutes. With no. 7 on his back, taking it from the recently departed David Beckham, the excitement was palpable, and any expectations were soon exceeded too.

Ronaldo won a penalty and entertained a mesmerised crowd with stepovers galore. “Undoubtedly the most exciting debut performance I’ve ever seen,” was the verdict of George Best.

18 years on, it’s 300 up for Cristiano. Here’s how he’s got to the landmark…

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RONALDO’S RECORD V ATALANTA

Cristiano faced our Italian opponents on six occasions during his three-season spell with former club Juventus. 

In a mark of their quality, Ronny and his Juve team-mates only achieved one victory in that run, also drawing four times and losing once. 

CR7 has scored three times against La Dea and, memorably, his only win against them came in the Coppa Italia final last May.

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Back in 2009, United overcame Hull City 3-1 on 27 December, with strikers Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov adding to an own-goal by Michael Dawson.

The only other time we haven’t played on the festive date since the inception of the Premier League came in 1995. Again, the game took place a day later, ironically against Newcastle, as goals from Andy Cole and Roy Keane earned three vital points on the way to pegging back Kevin Keegan’s league leaders, with the Reds eventually not only overcoming the Magpies but securing the Double.

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